What could we get for a McClung/Gwynn package?

[adambr2]

A relief pitcher who can throw triple digits, and a gold-glove potential centerfielder who could probably go ahead and start right now for some MLB clubs.

If we could move them for a team looking to fill some holes earlier, we might be able to solve our own problems at the same time. Bush could go to long relief, Parra could stay up, and we'd still have Kapler, Dillon, and Gross off the bench. We'd be just fine.

What do you think we could get for those two? Maybe a decent prospect?

Other possible options could be Bush/Gwynn if we wanted to stick with McClung in the pen, or perhaps McClung/Gross or Bush/Gross. I'm not counting on Kapler or Dillon being worth much, if anything, in a trade, so I didn't include them.

[jordanmuehl]

I really don't think we'd get anything that would be a true upgrade over what we have now. I guess it depends what prospect you were thinking, though.

[Hate those Rodents]

Not sure what type of names we could get. I am guessing the Padres and Rangers might still be interested in Gwynn though. Tell you what, I'd take the Garrison/Thatcher/Inman deal back from them for Gwynn and McClung...

[alwz4gbp]

Now that would be interesting. I wonder if thats ever happened before?

[Gopher74]

The thing with McClung, I don't want to jump the gun or anything, but I was one of those who just didn't understand why we kept him over Claudio Vargas. I knew he threw 100 with relative ease, but I thought it was straight. Watching him pitch the other night, you can see. He's got that nasty, nasty slider, and while he may not be able to command it right now, you can at least understand why they kept him.

 

The problem is, he's the type of guy who's not going to be worth a lot right now. What's he done since his disastrous time in Tampa to really elevate his status as a big leaguer, or to improve his trade value? Not much, so I think it'd be wise to hold onto him for the time being, which again is a complete 180 from about a month ago.

 

As for Gwynn, I hope he plays in the next two weeks, and plays like he has, because he's going to have some value. I like Gwynn more than some, and I think he can be a poor mans Kenny Lofton. A guy who can potentially get on base, steal bags and play a near GG caliber CF. He's got to improve his BB rate in order to do so, but I'm not writing him off just yet, nor do I suspect are many GM's.

 

The kid Neftali Feliz from Texas is a guy who I like. He's 19 years old, throws in the mid to upper 90's with a good curve.

He could be groomed as a future closer, and maybe be up in just a few years. They just have a slew of guys who could be groomed for that closers role, the role that I think the Brewers need to think about trying to develop right now. They've not going to be able to spend 10 million on a closer like Gange when Prince, Bruan and those guys are in their arbitration years, much less their FA years.

[Tbadder]

I agree there's not much to get for these two. Each will have to go out and perform at a significant level for at least a half season. Gwynn will never get the opportunity, what with the injury and Kaplar's sudden power and spellbinding work ethic. McClung's reputation has got to be shot, but at least there might be a lot of mop up considering our offense.

[JohnBriggs12]

The Brewers got McClung last year for Grant Balfour. I don't think he's done anything since then to raise his value.

 

Gwynn has to play more to establish his value.

 

Right now, I think they might be more valuable to the Brewers than they are as trade bait.

 

Personally, I think Gross and Turnbow would be dealt before either Gwynn or McClung.

 

To answer Gopher, they kept McClung over Vargas, because Vargas wasn't needed (he lost his rotation spot last August, not this spring) and they could save almost $3 million of his salary by dumping when they did instead of waiting until Gallardo returned. That doesn't mean they'll keep McClung past the time when Gallardo returns either. I don't think it's impossible to get a 27 year old with a career ERA of over 6 through waivers so they could assign him to Nashville.

 

He thows hard. So does Grant Balfour, and the Rays got him through waivers this spring. Throwing hard is just one aspect of pitching.

[JoeHova]

Now that would be interesting. I wonder if thats ever happened before?

 

Kind of. The White Sox gave the Phillies Gio Gonzalez (along with Aaron Rowand) for Jim Thome. The next year, he was traded back to the White Sox for Freddy Garcia, which indicated to me that the White Sox thought they had made a mistake giving him up in the first place. However, they then traded him to the A's for Nick Swisher.

 

I'm sure that kind of thing has happened other times too, that's just what came immediately to mind because I thought the sequence of events was strange.

[crewcrazy]

Now that would be interesting. I wonder if thats ever happened before?

Kind of. The White Sox gave the Phillies Gio Gonzalez (along with Aaron Rowand) for Jim Thome. The next year, he was traded back to the White Sox for Freddy Garcia, which indicated to me that the White Sox thought they had made a mistake giving him up in the first place. However, they then traded him to the A's for Nick Swisher.

 

I'm sure that kind of thing has happened other times too, that's just what came immediately to mind because I thought the sequence of events was strange.

I don't think it's a case of acknowledging that you made a mistake as much as it's a case of trading for a player who you already have pretty well scouted. It's less of a gamble to trade for a guy you've already seen with your own two eyes for awhile, in my opinion.

 

[JoeHova]

I don't think it's a case of acknowledging that you made a mistake as much as it's a case of trading for a player who you already have pretty well scouted. It's less of a gamble to trade for a guy you've already seen with your own two eyes for awhile, in my opinion.

 

You're probably right. I just always liked to think of Kenny Williams lamenting to himself "oh god, how did I let the Phillies talk me into giving Gonzalez up? I need to get him back."

 

[fallingleaves]

Seth McClung is the 2008 reincarnation of Brooks Kieschnick.

[endaround]

How? Brooks was a mop up guy who could hit and give you innings. McClung can't do either.

[MNBrew]

How? Brooks was a mop up guy who could hit and give you innings. McClung can't do either.

Kieschnick could hit homers from the pitcher's spot, too. McClung will only give 'em up, not hit one.

 

[hauser42]

Not sure what type of names we could get. I am guessing the Padres and Rangers might still be interested in Gwynn though. Tell you what, I'd take the Garrison/Thatcher/Inman deal back from them for Gwynn and McClung...

Why so we can have a possible number 5 starter and and two more arms that can be in the bullpen down the road maybe. When will folks ever realize the team was team was trying to win last year and needed an arm in the pen.

[TooLiveBrew]

It's not that people don't realize that; it's that folks then & now don't like the deal, not the concept/goal. There was plenty of evidence to suggest that Linebrink wasn't the 'star' he was regarded to be by many.

[davego]

2 is right. DM had the right idea, but that trade was made on 2005 not 2007 abilities.

 

I wonder if the 'crew tried to also move Gabe Gross in this deal, if they could get back a vet OF that really could be a PH. I like Gross, but he seems to struggle in that role. Really we could do some combo of Seth, Gynn, Turnbow and Gabe to target a vet PH/OF and some sort of ML-fodder.

[hauser42]

It's not that people don't realize that; it's that folks then & now don't like the deal, not the concept/goal. There was plenty of evidence to suggest that Linebrink wasn't the 'star' he was regarded to be by many.

He may have not been a star but he was a quality setup man and team gave up IMO nothing to get him. He was used incorrectly as he should have been the 8th inning guy instead of the seventh.

[endaround]

He wasn't a quality setup man and the team gave up a king's ransom to get him. Thatcher went to the Padres and out pitched him last year.

[adambr2]

He wasn't a quality setup man and the team gave up a king's ransom to get him. Thatcher went to the Padres and out pitched him last year.

 

 

Yeah, I hate how much we gave up for Linebrink who left anyway. Thatcher was pretty dominant in the last half of the season for the Padres last year. It's still too small of a sample size to put a whole lot of stock into, as are his struggles this season. Inman is the Padres' top pitching prospect.

 

The good news is, it's not a total loss. We do get the two early draft picks for Linebrink that we wouldn't have had otherwise. That's looking 5 years down the road, but if one of those picks turns out to be a franchise player for us, we'll remember this. We got Hardy in the 2nd round in 2001, and Gallardo in the 2nd round in 2004. These are the kind of picks we're getting, between the first and second round. So hopefully at least one is a big success up here.

[JohnBriggs12]

The trouble with McClung even as stictly a mopup guy is that he often doesn't throw strikes. If you're getting blown out or up by 7 or more runs and want to rest the other bullpen arms the last thing you need is for the game to drag on by putting guys on base.

[endaround]

Yep which is why I can't believe he made the team. You want your long man to give you three innings eve if he gives up 4 runs. McClung could easily throw 40 pitches and only record 2 outs.

[Oldcity]

McClung likely only made the team because Yo got injured. He'll likely be gone in a week anyway, so no big deal.

[endaround]

Oh as to waht teh Brewers cpuld get for McClung? $20,000 waiver fee

[pete]

McClung: 45 pitches, 28 strikes, 9 outs, 2 Ks, 1 BB.

 

"McClung came in and was outstanding. He was the key to our victory right there." - Ned Yost

[Gopher74]

McClung likely only made the team because Yo got injured. He'll likely be gone in a week anyway, so no big deal.

Well see. I happen to think that Vargas should have made the team over him in the 1st place, was then a little bit convinced when I saw just how incredibly he pure stuff was in his first outing of the year, then after his second last one was frustrated, and now after this very last one am back to the "they have to keep this guy" line of though.

 

They could just send Parra down, wait until someone else has to go on the DL which is only a matter of time and hang onto McClung. Or send Bush down. That might be the best thing for him.

 

But McClung's got Bobby Jenks type stuff. Not the Bobby Jenks right now who's throwing only 92-93, but the one that threw 99 and was unhittable. If you can develop that or have any chance to, it's worth it to send down a guy like Bush or Parra despite the fact that they're better for the team in the here and now.